Millers Experiment: Stanley Miller was an American chemist who conducted one of the most exciting experiments in modern science. He and Harold C. Urey conducted an experiment to understand the origin of life. Miller took molecules that represent the major components of the early earth’s atmosphere and put them into a closed system. Miller’s experiment provided experimental evidence for chemical evolution.

Millers Experiment

• The experiment was carried out by SL Miller and HC Urey in 1953.
• He took a closed flask containing CH₄, H₂, NH₃ and water vapour at 800°C and created electric discharge.
• These conditions were similar to those in primitive atmosphere.
• After a week, formation of amino acids were observed. Complex molecules like sugars, nitrogen bases, pigments and fats were seen in the flask by other scientist.
• Analysis of the meteorite also revealed the presence of similar compounds.
• Chemical evolution of life was more or less accepted.

Criticism of Millers Experiment

The experiment failed to explain how proteins were responsible for the formation of amino acids. A few scientists have contradicted that the gases used by Miller and Urey are not as abundant as shown in the experiment. They were of the notion that the gases released by the volcanic eruptions such as oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide make up the atmosphere. Therefore, the results are not reliable.

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By Team Learning Mantras